Nags Head senior photo session at the pier and in the waves! { OBX senior photographer: Nags Head, NC}

It’s that time of year again. Another set of high school seniors will be graduating. One of my own nieces will also graduate this year in Northern Virginia (I have 13 nieces and nephews along with a great nephew and two great nieces….so there are a few)! My own little man will “graduate” from preschool this May of 2016. (pass the Kleenex!)  It’s a time of transition, a time of change, of exciting opportunities and endless possibility. It’s the perfect time to capture some images before all of the big changes that lie ahead. Senior photo sessions have been popular for several years now and I think it’s a great tradition. Personally, my senior school head shot with a splattered paint shirt is not exactly a flattering memory. Nothing could have been flattering with that sun-in streaked hair and late 80’s style..but natural light photos with a professional photographer might have helped.  But I digress. 😉

This photo session is a throw back to the class of 2014. This is Kelsey and she is the daughter of a girl who went to high school with ME! I chose this session because it just feels like it pulls it full circle when you are photographing your high school classmate’s kids!

We started of at Nags Head FIshing Pier and captured a few images there and then headed down to Coquina Beach (across from the Bodie Island Lighthouse) to get some gorgeous beach shots. Kelsey was so great to work with and was up for anything. Some of my favorite photos are when she got in the surf for some fun ocean shots. Luckily she came with a change of clothes.  😉 Kelsey rocked her photo session like a model and I’m sure she is killin’ it a CU!high-school_senior_photos_beach_nagshead_ncsenior-girl_photos-on-beach-chair_obxgirl_senior_highschool_portraits_obx

senior_portraits_girl-with-crown-on beach_outer_banks_ncclose-up_senior_portraits_outer_banks_ncsenior_portraits_nags-head_nc kelsey_senior_photography_beaches_of_nags-head-ncnags_head_beach_senior_portraits girl_headshot_beach_senior_photos_outerbanks_nccloseup_senior_girl_portraits_nagshead_nchigh_school_girl_jumping_on-the-beach_nags-head_ncsenior_high_school_photos_playing-in-waves_outer_banks_ncsenior_photos_in-the-ocean-waves_obx  senior_girl_dressed_playing_in_surf_obx_ncHad to capture one image of mom and daughter at the very end of the session Beauty runs deep in this family!mother_daughter_senior_girl_photo_outer_banks_ncThis image below is the front side of a graduation announcement that I designed for Kelsey. I’m also a graphic designer, so it’s fun to incorporate my photography and design skills to come up with press printed products.senior_graduation-card-design_girl_Outer_Banks_NCHope to see you back in the OBX soon…

Where the Wild Things Are – a special 2nd birthday passion photo project: {Nags Head NC Family Photographer}

As a photographer in the Outer Banks, I love capturing the love between families. But I especially love photographing children and the spontaneity of emotion that they bring to the table. Sometimes it’s a bit terrifying..but it’s exhilarating too. Genuine. Honest. Free spirited. Raw. Little ones are nothing if not that. So when I saw a pic of a friend’s son (a local boy from Kill Devil Hills NC) in his amazing Halloween costume late last year, I was inspired to take images of him in a little fantasy dress up photo shoot. It was fun to have complete creative control and set up – with this fun “Where the Wild Things Are” styled shoot for Turner near his 2nd birthday! This first photo below was recently entered on a whim to a photo contest for Shoot and Share. This particular image came in better than the TOP 1% of children and toddler photos – and as a personal project is a favorite of mine as well.

max_where-the-wild-things-are_2nd-birthday-photos-obxMaurice Sendak is a favorite illustrator of mine and I’ve always had a special fondness for the children’s book Where the Wild Things Are. In fact, back when I went back to school for graphic design, one of my award winning 3D art projects was called Max meets Magritte. It combines a surrealist painting of Margritte and incorporates it with the illustrations of the children’s story. Must be a lucky book for me.  :)

max_where-the-wild-things-are_nags_head_ncTurner_2nd_birthday_photos_nagshead_nc_where-the-wild-things-are-sendak-themewhere-the-wild-things-are-max_outer_banks_ncthat very night in max’s room a forest grew.

and grew… and grew until his ceiling hung with vines… and the walls became the world all around”siblings_storybook_photoshoot_outer_banks_nc

Turner’s big sister Lily also got in a little of the action too.2nd-birthday-photos-nags-head-woods-ncThis giant number balloon (above, right), was provided by The Flower Field in Kitty Hawk. It was his 2nd birthday after all…so we wanted to get one shot to celebrate that fact.  Turner’s mom works with the Flower Field..and it happens to be a great place to pick up an amazing arrangement or a flower crown for a special photo shoot (hint hint!).max_2nd_birthday_dancing_on_bridge_nags-head-woods-ncAll of these images are back in the Nags Head Woods Nature preserve. This little bridge seemed like a fun backdrop for the kids to play..and dance!Turner_turns_two_dress-up_nags_head_nc brother_sister_hug_nagshead-woods_ncHugs from brother “Max.”max_tail_where_the-wild-things-are_2nd_birthday_photos Max_picking_america_beauty-berries_nags_head_woods-ncmom-kissing-son-dressed-up-as-max-nagshead-nc

And Max the king of all wild things was lonely and wanted to be where
someone loved him best of all.